Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 469,900 people employed as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the United States. The median annual salary is $56,300. Entry level employees earn approximately $33,460 per year and senior employees earn approximately $98,990 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Anchor steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipes in place.
• Estimate time, material, or labor costs for use in project plans.
• Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
• Inspect structures to assess material or equipment needs, to establish the sequence of pipe installations, or to plan installation around obstructions, such as electrical wiring.
• Install green plumbing equipment, such as faucet flow restrictors, dual-flush or pressure-assisted flush toilets, or tankless hot water heaters.
• Cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes or pipe fittings, using hand or power tools.
• Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.
• Install fixtures, appliances, or equipment designed to reduce water or energy consumption.
• Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks.
• Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
• Maintain or repair plumbing by replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes, or opening clogged drains.
• Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
• Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
• Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment.
• Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools.
• Select pipe sizes, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications.
• Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
• Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
• Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems.
• Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
• Keep records of work assignments.
• Direct helpers engaged in pipe cutting, preassembly, or installation of plumbing systems or components.
• Install pipe systems to support alternative energy-fueled systems, such as geothermal heating or cooling systems.
• Weld small pipes or special piping, using specialized techniques, equipment, or materials, such as computer-assisted welding or microchip fabrication.
• Operate motorized pumps to remove water from flooded manholes, basements, or facility floors.
• Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
• Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods.
• Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.

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